Book and leaf holding device for printing machines



May 19, 1953 c. G. KRAKENBERG 2,638,846

BOOK AND LEAF HOLDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 1 5 vii/4 x INVENTOR.

@5155 a. lam/( me C. G. KRAKENBERG BOOK AND LEAF HOLDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. CHARLES G/(M/(ENBERG ATTORNEY y 9, 1953 c. G. KRAKENBERG 2,638,346

BOOK AND LEAF HOLDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

CHARLES E. KRAKENBERG BY/ W ATTORNEY Patented May 19, 1953 BOOK AND LEAF HOLDING DEVI-CE FOR PRINTING MACHINES Charles G; Krakenberg, New York, N. Y., assignor to Checkmaster Systems, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 5, 1950, Serial No. 177,797

My present invention relates generally to printing, andhas particular reference toa machine for successively imprinting the leaves of a bound book.

More particularly, the invention relates to an improved table or printing bed whereby the book to be imprinted may be more efiiciently located and held in a predetermined imprinting position, and the leaves held down as they are successively imprinted, lifted, and turned about the bound edge of the book.

While certain phases of the invention are not restricted to the printing or holding of any particular type of book, the invention is primarily intended for use in relatively small printing mechanism such as those which are suitable for manual operation by relatively unskilled operators. An example of such printing machine is that which is used by banks to imprint a depositors name and address, or other personal information, on the individual leaves of a personalized small-size check book.

A machine of the specialized character referred to comprises essentially a bed or table upon which the check book is held, and an overhead platen which is in reality a leaf of the book, is turned by hand to expose the next underlying check.

The turned leaves are ordinarily held in their turned positions by one hand of the operator.

The invention relates specifically to a device for holding the turned leaves or imprinted checks in their turned positions, thereby greatly facilitating the operation of the machine. By the use of the present holding device the imprinting m achinemay be operated at a considerably accelerated rate. The operator can devote his full attention to the manipulation of the printing mechanism and the coordinated turning of the individual checks, and need not be distracted by any effort to hold the checks in their turned positions. The holding device f this invention makes it impossible for an imprinted and turned check or checks to spring back, an occurrence which would delay operation or result in spoiled checks.

In addition to the foregoing object of the invention, a further object is to provide a holding device for the turned leaves which is part of a larger device having provisions for positioning the check book in proper location on the printing bed or table.

Another object is to provide 8 Claims. (Cl. 101-407) a device as described which will accommodate notonl those check books which are stapled or otherwise secured together at a narrow or transverse edge of the checks but also check books which are stapled or otherwise secured together along a longitudinal edge of the checks.

I achieve the foregoing and such other objects of invention as may appear or be pointed out herein, by means of the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top view of the improved device as applied to books secured together at a narrow (transverse) edge;

Figure 2is an elevational cross-section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is an end view taken in the direction of line 33 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is an elevational cross-section taken transversely across the device, on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a transverse cross-section similar to Fig; 4 and showing a book in place;

Figure 6 is a top view of the device as applied to books secured together along a long edge;

Figure 7 is an elevational cross-section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6; and

Figure 8 is an elevational cross-section taken transversely across the device, on line 8-8 of Fig. 6. i

I have chosen to illustrate the printing bed or table of a machine especially adapted for imprinting check books. The machine shown is set up in Figs. 1-5 for imprinting books in which the checks are stapled or otherwise secured at a narrow edge (the right in Figs. 1-2) of the checks. The bedplate of the machine is designated 9; the check book 8 is placed in a predetermined position on plate 9 so that the printing type (not shown) will imprint in the proper space provided on the individual checks. For this purpose a main abutment bar It) is secured to table 9, as by screws ll, Fig. l; and at the right of main abutment bar In, an end abutment plate I2 is also secured to table 9. End abutment plate I2, as best seen in Fig. 1, has a pair of short legs l3, l4 so that legs l3, [4 together with web l2 of the plate form a shallow recess; the inside distance between legs [3, I4 is only a little larger than the width of check book 8, so that the right end thereof (which is the end at which the checks are stapled together) is held snugly by end abutment plate [2, with the long side (upper, in Fig. 1) of the book contacting main abutment bar I0 i End abutment plate I2 is secured to the plate together by bolts l9, (Figs. 4, which pass? through holes or passages "i inthebedplate 9,.so. that the upper transverse bar l'l an'dth'ei lovven transverse bar l8, held rigidly togetherby bolts" l9, l9, may move up and downvas a unit;relative: A compression ooilsprin'gfi; encircles. each of bolts 59. between the underside of plate 9 to plate 9.

and lower bar 58, so that the=,unit !'l-I8=-|9t is. normally urged downwardly, with upper transverse bar ill close to plate 9, as in Fig. 4. a checl: book is positioned on the machine, its right: end; (Figst leZb l isz'slipped: unden upperaban i l, the-compression ofi-sprin'gs fiholding? zboolr firmly}- in place:

The individuahcheeks;such assthe uppermost on iniiig; 1 designated: 3;. are lifted and rturnedto the right a'fteri being imprintedi. lilies-device: for: holdingthy-cheeks: or: leaves: in' their'- turned positions: comprises a pair 10f: members-designated; genemlit:- 2 29 f Members? 2 0,121} are preferably; fabricatedof strinmetaliwhioh isitwisted:9il "upon; itself to form a lower shank 2d! and'ran: upper: porticnr presenting; an: inside stripi 221: and ngcrvgd;see-Fig? 3. The 'distaliend of: bent slightly toiiform'za'zshort lip 24;: M 2e s i tgfirxare located at opposite ends of transverse bar ill, see Fi'g'Si'ltHIl'diB being pivote' ally; secured-mo 'the outer side: of bar la'r'by-means of a screw 25, the stern of Which-passes through: a h'o'le ln'fiilallk'filii I Altensi'lespringtdt: theien'ds ofiwhiehi are :airc-horedrat the shanks 2i! rofimeme bers 121i, normally urges members 20, towardleach other: Rei'errin'g tUi'Figt' 3.; the endsxofi bar. I Beat which the members 2zca'are pivotallyz mounted; are slightly re'ces' .li to provideia"sl'i'oulder. lfi atieach end against hieh: the: inside edge of the-shanks 222 r ofnnembersaz Eli-abutito 1 limit thei Y: turning -toward each other under urgency-of spring' zfiz Each oi the: members: Zih'hasi tha shape" of a quest-ion rnark', and in the normal position- 0f members 2% the lips 2 of their fingers 23, are-sep arated irom oneanother by a di'st'anee somewhat less than the Width of -acheck,whieh is indioated elgL'Bbythesihgle cheek- E 'and the pli'iralityv orrchoclt 'lhc single checl-3"sh0vvn in Fig; 3- .represents:che k-being turned' after having revecl anim rint. In orderthat" c-lieck'- i -may e fi'nger m'em'bers (toreaoh; and" l to, t e'pl-uralityofheld checles or leavesembers turn outwardly through aslight s shown in dot-and dash positions) It be pointed out'thatthe check itself is slightly in the process-of addihg-"it totlie already heldby" members--2 6 hence; the extent 'ofoutward"turning oi members 2 was very slight; Inany event, it shouldbe noted-that lips fit -in their normal positions-areoloser together- I secured to table 9, as by end screws 34, 34.

ill. The end abutment plate (l2l3-M) of Figs. 1-5 is not used in this case; instead, a plate 30, Fig. 6, is secured to table 9, as by corner screws 3|. Referring to Fig. '7 it will be seen that a narrow and thin strip or shim 32, 32 is placed under plate 3!] at each side, so as to provide a central clearance under plate Sit-whereintheiback cover I of'the check-book is passed.

A second longitudinal bar 33, Fig. 6, is then (Referringto Fig. 1, table 9 is provided with a pair of.spaced'rtapped holes M to receive screws 34, S'Jand the plate so may if desired remain in plaoeya's shownvinzFig'. l, as it does not interfere with theiuseroiithe device with check books or pads stapled on Otherwise secured at a narrow or transverse end,.as in Fig. 1). At the ends of bar 33; which engages the long bound edge of the book gware pivotally mounted a pair of members 213, impelled toward one *another by tensile spring as already described. The-turnedleaves, such as-v 2e inlFig fi uareheld by members 2am: in the same manneras :rnorefully described with reference to Figs. l-5.

lhe device; when-used for check book-ssecured along alongitudinaledge; may be provided with: a painof. spring; clips to whichengage and trio-- tionallyholdthe free edge portions of the checks Of+bi30k"B"*,.aS shown' in Fig; 6:- Springelips All are heldat spacedpointsalong bar I tl ,Fig; 6; and may? be hooked about bar iii, as shown in-Fig. 8, bar Hit havingqa recessri W "at its lower side, in Whichw leg ii-of the spring clipmaysbeinserted and held;

The-operationWill'be apparent. For example;

Where-the machine 'i's handwoperated;theoperator;

moves=th -pinting head up and down withone" hand; and: successively lifts and turns the leaves of': ther'books -with; the other: each leaf is turned itreadily passes through the space be tween :th'eppposedleaf engaging members? 9'; and as the. latter resume? their normal' relationship: they bear down: on" the turned leaves beneath" them and; hold them: against any return 'movement'; By correlated movements of: the opera.-

toris' hands the printing ofnumbenof successive" leavesvcan' be accomplished. in an unusually. sinipl' and'lexpeditious manner-1 When all theleaves' haveb'een. imprinted; they are readily 'releasedby spreading the membersZ l apartg-and the bookcan then' be' releas'ed from the table;

Where the booliis bound along-its long edge, each successive leafi' after imprinting, is first pulled edgewise fromb'eneath the clips MJ- before it is' lifted' andturnedi Itwill be understoodth'at many ofthe details herein deseribed are merely illustrative; and'that th'ose skilled-in the art readily makech'anges' insome of these" details without necessarily departingfrom the spirit and scope of the inventionasexpressedin the appended claims.

Hea ing thus" described and" illustrated my invention, what-"1 desire to secure; by grant'o'ffLettors-Patentis 1. In a machine for imprinting. individual leaves ofa bookin'which'th'e leaves aresecured' along" a narrow sideitliereof, atable for support ing'said" book thereon, a main abutment bar: on said'table, an endabutrnent plate on sa'idtahle and having a' pair'or'short endlegspresenting a recess,,the inside edge off'on'e of said'legs' being alignedwith' the inside'edge. of said main abutmentbarwhereby said book may beheldin 1m.- printin'gposition with its bound" endin said recess; and"means adjacent" to saidend'abutment platefor' holding leaves which have beentturned about said narrow side of the book away from the imprinting position of the unturned leaves, said means comprising a pair of opposed members having ends extending inwardly over the table toward each other, and means mounting said members on said table for movement toward and away from each other.

2. The combination with the elements set forth in claim 1 of a bar arranged close to, and substantially parallel to, said end abutment plate, and adapted to overlie said book, and spring means for pressing said bar against the book.

3. In a machine for imprinting individual leaves of a book in which the leaves are secured along a long side thereof, a table for supporting said book thereon, an abutment bar on said table, plate supported on said table in a slightly spaced relation thereto, said book being positioned with its leaves in overlying relation to said plate and with its back cover received beneath said plate, the edge of the book opposite said bound side engaging said abutment bar, a second bar engaging said bound side of the book, and means adjacent to said second bar for holding leaves which have been turned about said long side of the book away from the imprinting position of the unturned leaves, said means comprising a pair of opposed members having ends extending inwardly over the table toward each other, and means mounting said members on said table for movement toward and away from each other.

4. The combination with the elements set forth in claim 3 of a pair of spring clips at spaced points on said first abutment bar and adapted to engage and yieldably hold down the free ends of said unturned leaves.

5. In a machine for successively imprinting the individual leaves of a bound book, a table, means for locating said book on said table with the bound edge in a predetermined position, and a yieldable holder arranged adjacent to said bound edge and adapted to engage and hold down successive leaves as they are lifted and turned about said bound edge, said holder comprising a pair of opposed members having ends extending inwardly over the table toward each other, means mounting said members on said table for movement toward and away from each other, and. a spring normally urging at least one of said members toward the other.

6. In a machine for successively imprinting the individual leaves of a bound book, a table, means for locating said book on said table with the bound edge in a predetermined position, and a yieldable holder arranged adjacent to said bound edge and adapted to engage and hold down successive leaves as they are lifted and turned about said bound edge, said holder comprising a pair of opposed members each of which has the shape of a question mark with upper free ends of yieldable material and extending inwardly toward each other relative to the table, said members serving as yieldable fingers between which the leaves are releasably held down.

7. In a machine for successively imprinting the individual leaves of a bound book, a table, means for locating said book on said table with the bound edge in a predetermined position, and a yieldable holder arranged adjacent to said bound edge and adapted to engage and hold down successive leaves as they are lifted and turned about said bound edge, said holder comprising a pair of opposed members each of which has the shape of a question mark with upper free ends of yieldable material and extending inwardly toward each other relative to the table, said members serving as yieldable fingers between which the leaves are releasably held down, said members being mounted on said table for movement toward and away from each other, and a spring normally urging at least one of said members toward the other.

8. In a machine for imprinting individual leaves of a book, said leaves having a predetermined dimension and secured in said book at an edge parallel to said predetermined dimension, a pair of members each having a leaf engaging portion, said members being arranged at the ends of the bound edge of the book and pivotally mounted to present their leaf engaging portions in facing relation, and spring means urging said members toward each other, means on the table for limiting the inward movement of the members toward each other to less than said predetermined dimension of the leaves whereby leaves turned about said bound edge of the book are retained by said members which move away from each other as each successive leaf is turned and pushed past said members to join the previously turned and retained leaves.

CHARLES G. KRAKENBERG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 641,075 Carney Jan. 9, 1900 1,819,326 Gale Aug. 18, 1931 1,883,035 Snively Oct. 18, 1932 2,488,226 Mukoyed Nov. 15, 1949 

